The Wilmingtonian., 1887-02-12

a mutce TO meet it.
ssTho words and the private private signal
alterpated many times, and then heard 8
oTash-such crash as would follow the fall
ing of deavy uindow-sash,
"Absolute silence followed, and with the
silence came a sense of physical depression,
as though current of electricity which bad
wrought my nerves to their utmost tension
had suddenly been withdrawn.
81 awoke instantly. When say awoke,
mean that awoke to a consciousness of
the things Immediately about me, for 1T is
my belief that my mental condition previous
to that time cannot be expressed or descrlb-
cd by the word sleep.
~ heard the City Hall clock strike one,
and tried to sleep again, but could not do 20
think of nothing but the slouohing figure
had seen early in the evening on tho outer
edge of the walk; found it impossible to
forget the mysterious words warning me to
lock the bathroom door
II should have got out Of bed and made
tour of the bathroom and CLOSET, only it oc.
Cured to me it would be rather ridiculous
thing to do. Men who pride themselves on
practical turn of mind dislike to do ridicu-
lous things, even when alone. Besides, notrith
standing the effect produced upon mo by
what had heard, regarded the matter as
an unusually clear cut dream, and WAS not
in the least alarmed. The longer Hay awake
the more thoroughly did become convinced
that the nervous suspicious Of the paying
teller were alone responsible for my losing
good hour of sleep. and | resolved to make
up for lost time as soon as possible by turn
ing over for another nap.
"If had not, as q preliminary step to the
resolve so formed, raised myself iu bed and
made great noise beating up and roarrang-
ing my pillows, perhaps the most trying por-
ton of that nights experience would have
been spared me. Be that as it my, the fact
remains that before had arranged my pill
lows to my liking my attention was diverted
from my task by three rather startling OBJ
jeots.
"The first was dark-lantern pouring its
round red rays full In my face. The second
WAS an unusually long and unnaturally
bright self-cocking revolver located within
six inches of my nose. The third was par
ticularly vilainous face, with thick, black
eyebrows running together above the nose,
forming no arch to speak of, and producing
the general effect of straight, unbroken
line crossing the lower forehead
"Was frightenedp Yes; but | scarcely
think my fright took the usual form. Iknew
in an instant, as well as know now, that it
was not my life, nor the trifling amount Of
money he might find in my room, that the
intruder wanted. l recognized his presence
there as part of well laid plan to rob the
my suspicious,
u"Get up and dress YOURSELF he said, in a
whisper: we want you at the bank. II
you value your life, be quick about it, and
make no noise"
"Tne mans arguments were anauswer-
able, and obeyed
'You are to go with me to the bank he
said, holding his weapon close to my head
as dreased, and open the vault, The first
movement you make to escape or call assis.
tance will be your last. My mates are be.
low. If miss my aim, they will not. Il
we meet an officer at tho bank, or on the way
there, and you are questioned, you are to say
that you want important papers left on youl
desk, and pass on. You will not be harmed
We want money, and not human life. d.
you understands
'.In short time was at the outer door o
| my sitting-room dressed for the street. New
er for an instant, in all my journeys abou
the room to secure my clothes, had tn
threatening weapon been removed from th
close position of my waking moment. Still
| had not abandoned all hope. Surely, be
tween my rooms ard the bank, some oppor
tunity for escape would present itself. l hat
no intention of unlocking the vault. At tn
last moment should have risked few shot
from the robbers revolvers.
"My escort unlocked the sitting-room doc
and paused with his hand ON the knob. A
this instant a sound Of foot steps was hear
on the stairs. the key was quietly turned
the lock, and felt for the first time the col
rim of revolver on my temple. The steI
passed my door, and the weapon was lowe
ed. You all know what followed. Befol
the weapon could be raised again, the dot
fell in with a crash, and the robber, uh
stood directly Ia front eff it, was dubbed
the floor and hxndcuffed by squad of p
lieeman led by the psying-teller
''Dick did not return to his own chambe
I w. II l.,
light in the sitting-room. At frat hs'absolut
" refused to explain his sudden sppesran,
, with the officers, for Dick is hard heade
sort of fellow, who scouts everything th
cannot he demonstrated by set rules and FL
ures; but finally he fairly unbosomed hin
/ self, telling his story before had even give
a hint of my mysterious experience.
, ~ slept soundly until nearly 1 O'Clock
he said, with the air of man who expec
to be laughed at, and then passed Into
strange trance-like dream. In that drea
saw, as plainly as l ever saw in my life, I'll
: interior of your bathroom, aud seated at Il
b foot of the tub, where the opening do
/ would have concealed him from any OF
9 looking in, l saw the man we had last Sc,
I opposite the window where we dined. | I
l cognized at once the slouching figure al
, tue level line of eyebrows he then attempt,
: TO hide beneath the rim of his suuch hat.
r "There was no light the bathroom,
q anywhere about the apartment, but had
+ difficulty in tracing every line Of his lace, Il
in seeing you sound asleep in your bed.
mind az nnoa hanana fIlad with tha nna i'll
/ that you were in danger. In my sleep ca
t, ed out to you to lock the bathroom door, a
s warned you that could not get the slouc